If you're looking for decent places to eat in Normal, here is a list of places that aren't terrible:
1. Desthil -- Brewpub with interesting dishes for Central Illinois.
2. The Rock -- A Middle-Eastern and Gyros place in Uptown Normal.
3. Epiphany -- I haven't been there, but Bloomington-Normal people think it's a gastronomic treasure. But then again, they love Avanti's. Good location in Bloomington.
That's about it. Better get there early, because even on Saturdays, the restaurants close at 9 pm or so.
If you drive down Veteran's Parkway, you will find any franchise restaurant you want:
Portillo's (The town of Normal gave them a $1 million tax subsidy to open a franchise in Normal. I am totally not kidding.)
Giordano's
Chick'Fil-A
Original Pancake House
Coldstone Creamery
Tony Roma's
Jimmy John's
Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano (
A chain started in Bloomington).
Wendy's
Taco Bell
Papa Murphy's
McDonald's
Subway
WingStop
Bob Evans
Burger King
Outback Steakhouse
Pizza Ranch
Olive Garden
Applebee's
Steak N Shake (The first-ever Steak N Shake was in Normal.)
Hardee's
Chipotle
Krispy Kreme (The City of Bloomington named the access road from Veteran's Parkway to the donut shop Krispy Kreme Drive. Look it up.)
Meatheads (Founded and headquartered in Bloomington).
Longhorn Smokehouse
Chuck E. Cheese
Potbelly
Jimmy John's (Yes, I know I already mentioned it, but I'm traveling down Veteran's Parkway in my mind, and there are multiple Jimmy Johns locations on this one street. And Jimmy John's started in Central Illinois in Charleston, home of Eastern Illinois University).
Denny's
Long John Silver's
Monical's Pizza
Taco Bell
Panera
Burger King and Steak N Shake again
Dairy Queen
I probably missed some. But you get the idea.